Random Thoughts and Hockey Stuff

Thanks for the nice comments on the play-by-play call Saturday night. I appreciate the kind words, but temper those comments with knowing most people don’t come up to you and tell you you stink.

Why does this happen so often in hockey? The admin staff works hard to pack the house and the home team forgets how to play hockey. The Dragons got over 18,000 fans into the Alamodome in 1997, only to have the team lose 5-1 to Phoenix. Saturday night in Chicago, the Wolves shoehorned 15,654 into Allstate Arena only to be smothered by Hamilton, 4-1. being outshot 36-16! Thanks for showing up boys to show all these people how not to play the game.

One reason the Rampage lost those four games someone hasn’t mentioned — Ray Edwards went Greg Popovich! The team with the best record in each conference sends their coach to be the conference coach in the AHL All-Star Game later this month. I say went “Pop” because like the Spurs coach, Edwards really isn’t someone who’s into awards. Although the honor would be justified for his hard work in getting the Rampage into playoff position, I’m thinking Ray would like the quiet time over standing behind the bench in Hershey. Besides, the lack of defense in the game would drive Edwards insane.

Only Norfolk, Charlotte and Chicago have scored more goals than San Antonio this season. The Rampage have 130, compared the teams with the fewest goals, 87 — Abbotsford and Adirondack.

How about that roadie for them low-flying Phantoms? They go all the way from the Hudson River Valley of New York all the way to British Columbia with the league’s worst record 11-25-2-2 and that record has been improved by the team winning seven of the last nine games. Only 2,190 “fans” showed up to see the game. I thought Canadians loved hockey?!

Been listening to Rampage hockey broadcasts all season…do ya think they could change up the commercials? I love spunky Susan, but since I’ve heard the commercial 1,000,000 times, I know how she multi-tasks == logistics == even as she asks the inquiry. I guess that’s why the spot is so successful.

Scoping the Stat Sheet

The Rampage have the best power play in the AHL, taking over the top spot from the Chicago Wolves after going 0-5 against Hamilton, while SA was 1-5 against the Aeros…what somewhat tempers that PP standing is the eight shorthanded goals allowed, more than all but two teams…the Rampage have only one shorthanded goal at the AT&T Center…three AHL teams have yet to get a shortie in front of home fans…none of the Chicago goaltenders have a GAA below 3…Chad Kolarik is playing well in Hartford after his trade from the Columbus BlueJacket organization to the Rangers, scoring 29 points in 36 games for the Whale…former Rampage defenseman Stu Bickel also wears the Whale after being traded by the Ducks to the Rangers…Adam Keefe will be back in town — Thursday with the Grand Rapids Griffins…he has 15 penalty minutes in three games — memo to Eric Neilson — get ready…Former Rampage defenseman Brett Festerling is now in Hamilton after the Ducks dealt him to Montreal…what’s up with former Rampage all-time leading scorer, Joel Perrault? He has only three goals in 26 games with Manitoba…David Spina has only six markers in 34 games with Peoria, but he is third on the team in scoring with 23 points…Bryan Helmer already has three assists in his two games with OKC.

Brett MacLean is tied for 6th on the AHL scoring ladder…Mikkel Boedker is the only player in the AHL with four shootout markers…Matt Climie is 12th among AHL goaltenders with a 2.35 GAA and his 16 wins is one shy of the league leader…rookie defenseman Maxim Goncharov is tied for fourth in most minor penalties (19), among first year pros, although the lanky blueliner has helped on the offensive end lately with four assists in three games and five in five…Garrett Stafford is at the top of the defenseman scoring leaderboard with 9-21-30 in 33 games…his nine goals is one off the mark of former Rampage defender, Sean Sullivan.